津津有味
津津有味 (jīn jīn yǒu wèi) literally means “with relishing interest” and expresses “with great interest and enjoyment”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: jin jin you wei, jin jin you wei,津津有味 meaning, 津津有味 in english
With great interest and enjoyment
Pronunciation: jīn jīn yǒu wèi Literal meaning: With relishing interest
Origin & Usage
This idiom uses the reduplicated 'jinjin' (津津), meaning moist or flowing with saliva, combined with 'having flavor' (有味) to describe intense enjoyment. The salivation metaphor connects to the physical response of anticipating delicious food. First appearing in Ming Dynasty literature, the phrase described both literal enjoyment of food and metaphorical relish for any engaging experience. Modern usage emphasizes enthusiastic engagement, whether reading a book, listening to a story, or pursuing any absorbing activity.
When to Use
Situation: The children listened to the story with great enthusiasm.
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
得心应手
dé xīn yìng shǒu
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
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驾轻就熟
jià qīng jiù shú
Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
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游刃有余
yóu rèn yǒu yú
Handle with ease; have skill to spare
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一帆风顺
yī fān fēng shùn
Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
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千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
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民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 津津有味 mean in English?
津津有味 (jīn jīn yǒu wèi) literally translates to “With relishing interest” and is used to express “With great interest and enjoyment”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 津津有味 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving with great interest and enjoyment.
What is the pinyin for 津津有味?
The pinyin pronunciation for 津津有味 is “jīn jīn yǒu wèi”.